Blues succumb to Huxley class (From This is The West Country)

Blues succumb to Huxley class

11:06am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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Toolstation League Division 1: Oldland Abbotonians 5, Minehead 1.

MINEHEAD crashed back to earth after their victory over Clevedon United the previous weekend, with a heavy defeat at fifth-placed Oldland Abbotonians on Saturday.

The hosts burst into a two-goal lead in the first two minutes, with the Minehead defenders wondering what had hit them.

With just 35 seconds on the clock, lethal striker Matt Huxley collected a pass from strike partner Rob Dumphy and coolly finished from 15 yards.

Then from a corner two minutes later Dan Bryant was the quickest to react and his bundled header beat Alex Sprake at the near post.

To their credit, Minehead fought hard to get back into the game and were soon playing flowing football which matched their opponents.

After 20 minutes Ben Flatley’s free kick from 25 yards beat ex-Minehead keeper Ben Lewis but struck the crossbar but, five minutes later Huxley, who has turned down several offers to play at a higher level, nonchalantly flicked the ball up on the edge of a crowded area and his overhead kick flew over the Sprake and into the net.

Again Minehead attacked hard and their efforts were rewarded two minutes later when a cross was headed into his own net by Mark Pocock under pressure from Andy Hall.

After the interval, play was evenly matched with chances at either end but it was Oldland who were next on the scoresheet with 11 minutes left when Minehead centre half Sam Hutchings stretched to block a centre and inadvertently put the ball past Sprake and into his own net.

To rub further salt into Minehead’s wounds Oldland substitute Spencer Thomas cheekily lobbed past Sprake to give the home side a flattering 5-1 victory.

Minehead: Alex Sprake, Mike Mullen, Andy Gubb, Robbie Hopkins, Sam Hutchings, Matt Cracknell, Ben Flatley, Chris Yeates, Luke Webber, Andy Hall, Guy Burns. Subs: Lee Todd, Joe Holder, Jamie Dingle.

The defeat was compounded by the news that Chard Town picked up a point against Hengrove to move above Minehead on goal difference, leaving the Blues back in a potential relegation position.

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